NDC is broke; meetings with delegates being held under trees, in churches – Spio-Garbrah

A flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has claimed that the NDC is broke, bemoaning the lack of party offices in key electoral areas, such as the Volta region.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the party’s delegates congress, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah disclosed that some of the party’s branches in the Volta region have no offices, thus they tend to have meetings under trees or in churches, a situation he says led to many in the party feeling slighted and abandoned.

He said during his visit to Kete Krachi, the executives of the party in the region had to hold meetings with him under trees as late as 9pm. He added that visits to Kejebi, Kpandai and Jasikan Warawara revealed that party meetings were held in church buildings.

“We have identified some of the obvious glaring needs of the party, such as the absence of party offices in places like Kete Krachi. We actually held the meeting outdoors, under trees at 9pm. There are no party offices. Other constituencies held their meetings in church buildings, in places like Kejebi, Jasikan Warawara, or Kpandai; meetings were held in church buildings,” Dr. Spio-Garbrah said.

According to him, information gathered from the delegates suggests that the absence of constituency offices in the said areas was partly responsible for the party’s loss in the 2016 elections.

“The party does not have constituency offices, many of the offices are in kiosks or in containers. And this does not speak well of a party that has been in office for 16 cumulative years. These are among the reasons why many in the party feel that the party has not taken care of itself. Individuals seem to have benefitted from the party but the party itself has been left to survive somehow,” he explained.

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah added that about 900,000 NDC supporters did not partake in the 2016 elections because they felt neglected by the party, thus the need for a candidate who would prioritize their welfare.

“Now that we are in opposition, these are tough times for the party, and it’s a time when the party needs all its supporters to stick with it. So we are looking forward to the delegates from the Volta region and from other regions, many of whom didn’t vote in the 2016 elections, almost 900,000 of them, making us lose the 2016 elections, to come and vote. Obviously, they will vote if they think they are getting a candidate who will take greater interest in their welfare, personal needs and ambitions and that is where we share with them the seven-point agenda,” he posited.